A common misconception about support learning is that it is purely focused on or beneficial for learners with learning challenges. The truth is, every learner can benefit from support learning. While learners with challenges make up part of our demographic, there is literally no-one who does not stand to benefit from the unique EduHelp approach to academic and holistic support for learners of all ages.
Support for Different Learners
In our first podcast series, Melissa and I discussed the EduHelp Method and talked a bit about the different services we offer. Some learners come to us with specific learning challenges to navigate. Others might be diagnosed with ADHD or are on the Autism spectrum. Other learners may have fallen behind and need a little help catching up, or filling the gaps in their foundational education. This is something we see a LOT of post-COVID-19. Still others are high-functioning learners, achieving A’s and seemingly excelling in academics, sport, or other extra-murals. The problem for these learners is the associated emotional and psychological cost of their drive to achieve.
The Psychological Cost of High Achievement
We rarely consider the psychological and emotional toll it places on learners to consistently deliver high marks or live up to parental expectations. While many learners thrive in an academic environment, the hours put in to study and aim for a balanced, harmonious life can be very taxing. Even more so for young people who are growing, maturing emotionally, navigating social interactions with peers and family responsibilities, all while trying to figure out themselves and their place in the world. Combine that with developmental hormonal fluctuations and it’s easy to understand the difficulties these learners face. Furthermore, high-achieving learners are part of a demographic that tends to put a lot of pressure on themselves to reach academic goals. Parents may have the best intentions when motivating students to work hard and achieve good marks, not realising the weight that their expectations place on already overtaxed learners.
Parental Support for Learners
At EduHelp, we encourage learners (and parents!) to focus on small, achievable, actionable goals. Parents can support learners by helping them to develop good study habits instead of aiming for a specific grade or score. For example, spending ten minutes per day on revision adds up and helps learners to develop time management skills, learn good study habits and the additional time spent on each subject will reap rewards. Setting these small, achievable goals motivates learners as every time they can check off a goal, their self-confidence increases. On the other hand, setting a big goal such as achieving 80% places a lot of strain on the learner. They can study hard, do their best and get 78%, which would mean they haven’t achieved their goal and can lead to disappointment, lack of motivation and decreased confidence in themselves and their abilities.
Booking support learning sessions with specialists who understand learners and take a holistic approach may just be the biggest gift parents can give their children. Students’ academic lives do not exist in a vacuum; they are intricately linked to their social, family, and inner emotional lives. By looking after the needs of the whole person, EduHelp Support Learning ensures that our learners are developing healthy habits for studying and for life. Ultimately, all parents want their children to be happy, healthy, contributing members of society. Allowing them to grow and thrive in a nurturing environment that addresses all their diverse needs sets them up for success in all spheres of life.